Celebrity & Style Mag

Monday, 14 July 2014

World Cup closing ceremony 2014 sees Shakira, Rihanna, David Beckham, Pele, Tom Brady, Vladimir Putin and more in the crowd as celebrities spotted at Maracana in Rio de Janeiro for final

or plenty, the World Cup coming to an end is unwelcome after more than a month of explosive football on the biggest of stages.

But Brazil, just as they did for the opening ceremony, were looking to make sure they see off the 2014 World Cup with a bang.

The location? The Maracana in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The reason? Celebrating the World Cup final between Argentina and Germany arriving.

Among those spotted for the showdown was American football star Tom Brady, who was getting cosy with his Brazilian supermodel wife Gisele Bundchen, and FIFA President Sepp Blatter, who was chatting to former Barcelona star Carles Puyol and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Excited: Shakira (centre) and her partner Barcelona's Gerard Pique (right) smile during the closing ceremony of the 2014 World Cup on Sunday at the Maracana

High spirits: Shakira was the headline act of the closing ceremony before the World Cup final 2014 between Argentina and Germany in Rio de Janeiro

Excited: Rihanna takes her seat for the 2014 World Cup final with her fellow celebrities during the closing ceremony ahead of Germany vs Argentina

Spotted: American football star Tom Brady and Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen were at the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro for the World Cup final 2014

Familiar faces... Former Brazil international Kaka, Brazil legend Pele and ex-England midfielder David Beckham pose ahead of the 2014 World Cup final

Pals: Pele and Beckham looked in high spirits ahead of the 2014 World Cup final between Argentina and Germany in Rio de Janeiro

Hopeful: Lena Gercke, the girlfriend of Germany's Sami Khedira, waits for the start of the 2014 World Cup final in Rio

Star: Ashton Kutcher takes a selfie before the 2014 World Cup final between Germany and Argentina in Brazil

Friends: A Germany fan poses with a pair of Argentina supporters ahead of the 2014 World Cup final in Brazil

Stage: Shakira took to the centre of the Maracana pitch in Rio to perform his 'La La La (Brazil 2014)' song for the crowd before the big match

On stage: Shakira performs with musician Carlinhos Brown (left) during the closing ceremony of the 2014 World Cup at the Maracana in Rio

Show: The Maracana crowd will only hope Argentina and Germany continue the trend and put on a good performance in the World Cup final 2014

Guess who they support? A group of Argentina fans look confident ahead of the 2014 World Cup final in Brazil as they hope to make history with Lionel Messi

Music: Carlos Santana (left), Wyclef Jean (centre) and Alexandre Pires perform during the closing ceremony before the 2014 World Cup final

Joking: FIFA President Sepp Blatter (right) chats with ex-Barcelona player Carles Puyol and model Vanessa Lorenzo at the Maracana before the World Cup 2014 final

Stars: Former Italy star Fabio Cannavaro and ex-Germany international Lothar Matthaus arrive for the 2014 World Cup final in Brazil

Now that's a good selfie: Matthaus, Cannavaro and Daniel Passarella take a shot in the Maracana before the World Cup final

Excited: A Germany supporter gets ready for the World Cup 2014 final on Sunday as the Brazilian performers show off their colourful constructions on the Rio pitch

Group photo: The VIP guests pose ahead of the 2014 World Cup final in Brazil between Argentina and Germany

That's kind of them! German supporters reassure the Brazilians in the Maracana that they won't let Argentina beat them

Support: Two Germany fans were in the crowd nice and easy before kick off as Argentina and Lionel Messi stop in their way of making history

Chat: FIFA President Blatter talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) ahead of the World Cup final 2014 in Brazil

Blue: An Argentine supporter waits for the start of the World Cup final as Germany stand in their way of making history

Colour: Performers take part in the closing ceremony at the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro before Argentina and Germany battle it out

Vibrant: The performers took to the same pitch that will be graced by Argentina's Lionel Messi and Germany's Thomas Muller in the final on Sunday

Dancers: The closing ceremony sees off the World Cup 2014 before the highly-anticipated final gets underway between Germany and Argentina in Brazil

Giant: A large inflatable Brazuca official ball is unleashed on the crowd inside the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro before the World Cup final 2014

The scene: Germany and Argentina will take to the pitch to battle it out to make history in the 2014 World Cup final at 8pm

It started with plenty of colour - as expected of Brazil - as Samba music and dancers took over the Maracana pitch, before the Brazuca ball was brought out as a centre-piece.

Two freestylers, one dressed in a Germany kit and the other in an Argentina strip, took to the stage to show off their skills for the crowd.
Shakira's 'La La La (Brazil 2014)' song was performed alongside Brazilian percussionist and singer Carlinhos Brown.

Arsenal are the World Cup kings! Gunners boast more winners than any other English team (but who is the side with the biggest number?)

will have been plenty of Arsenal fans cheering on Germany on Sunday evening, attempting to share in the triumph of a World Cup win that seems to edge further away from England's dreams.

And rightly so, as the Gunners can now boast more World Cup winners than any other English club after Germany's dramatic 1-0 victory at the Maracana.

German trio Mesut Ozil, Lukas Podolski and Per Mertesacker doubled Arsenal's winners' tally to six, overtaking Manchester United and West Ham.

Winners! Arsenal pair Mesut Ozil and Per Mertesacker celebrate after clinching the World Cup on Sunday

Proud: Lukas Podolski barely played in the tournament but couldn't wait to get his hands on the trophy

Arsenal's other three winners were Cesc Fabregas (Spain, 2010), Patrick Vieira and Emmanuel Petit (both France, 1998).

And 200 miles north of the Emirates, Manchester City fans were looking to register their first ever World Cup winners, but Argentinian trio Pablo Zabaleta, Sergio Aguero and Martin Demichelis missed out in extra-time to Mario Gotze's winner.

Two European powerhouses lead the way in the overall winners' tally; Juventus on 22 and Bayern Munich, now on 21, after seven of their stars took home a medal on Sunday night.

Inter Milan trail with 18 and Roma continue the Italian dominance with 13, with the Azzurri having won the World Cup four times - in 1934, 1938, 1982 and 2006 - with heavy Italian-based squads.
When it comes to divisions, Italy and Germany triumph again.

The Italian league, now seen as behind the Premier League, La Liga and Bundesliga for entertainment and quality value, boasts 90 World Cup winners, while the German league has now leapfrogged the Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A into second with 64.

Keeping it in the family: Patrick Vieria and Emmanuel Petit won the World Cup with France as Gunners

Differing fortunes: Cesc Fabregas won with Spain four years ago but Martin Demichelis was on the losing side

WINNERS FROM ENGLISH LEAGUES (24)

Mesut Ozil (Arsenal, 2014), Lukas Podolski (Arsenal, 2014), Per Mertesacker (Arsenal, 2014), Andre Schurrle (Chelsea, 2014), Fernando Torres (Liverpool, 2010), Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal, 2010), Juninho (Middlesbrough, 2002), Patrick Vieira (Arsenal, 1998), Emmanuel Petit (Arsenal, 1998), Frank Leboeuf (France, 1998), Gordon Banks (Leicester City, 1966), George Cohen (Fulham 1966), Ray Wilson (Everton, 1966), Nobby Stiles (Manchester United, 1966), Jack Charlton (Leeds United, 1966), Bobby Moore (West Ham, 1966), Alan Ball (Blackpool, 1966), Jimmy Greaves (Tottenham Hotspur, 1966), Bobby Charlton (Manchester United, 1966), Geoff Hurst (West Ham, 1966), John Connelly (Manchester United, 1966), Terry Paine (Southampton, 1966), Ian Callaghan (Liverpool, 1966), Roger Hunt (Liverpool, 1966)

Golden boys: Geoff Hurst (left), Bobby Moore and Martin Peters all won the World Cup while at West Ham

Big men: Blackpool's Alan Ball played for England in 1966 (left) as Moore paraded the trophy at Wembley

LEADING THE WAY - JUVENTUS (22)

Gianluigi Buffon, Fabio Cannavaro, Alessandro Del Piero, Mauro Camoranesi, Gianluca Zambrotta (all Italy, 2006), Didier Deschamps, Zinedine Zidane (both France, 1998), Dino Zoff, Antonio Cabrini, Claudio Gentile, Gaetano Scirea, Marco Tardelli, Paolo Rossi (all Italy, 1982), Alfredo Foni, Pietro Rava (both Italy, 1938), Luigi Bertolini, Felice Borel, Gianpiero Combi, Giovanni Ferrari, Luis Monti, Raimundo Orsi, Virginio Rosetta (all Italy, 1934)

Totting up: The disgraced Paulo Rossi is one of the 24 Juventus players to win a world title (in 1982)

The English top flight, for all its foreign imports over the past two decades and more, can only register 24 winners, seventh behind the Spanish, Uruguayan and Argentinian leagues.

Spanish failure in major competitions before the turn of the century mean two of the world's most successful clubs - Barcelona and Real Madrid - have just 18 winners between them.

West Ham, forever regarded as the team that won the World Cup for England in 1966, have as many winners associated with them as the likes of United, Borussia Dortmund, Fluminense and Monaco.
But no club can boast such an impact from just three of their players on a World Cup finals.

Winning captain Bobby Moore, World Cup final hat-trick hero Geoff Hurst and final goalscorer Martin Peters were all playing at Upton Park at the time England beat West Germany 4-2 at Wembley, and the three's achievements are immortalised in a statue outside of the Hammers' ground.

Fancy feet: Juninho was part of the triumphant Brazil side of 2002 while still playing for Middlesbrough

England's success has starved since, and with the globalisation of the Premier League and an increasing preference for club over country, fans can support other nations if their players are represented elsewhere.

Manchester United supporters adopted Holland in anticipation of signs of a change of fortune with manager Louis van Gaal, while Aston Villa fans took some comfort in seeing Dutchman Ron Vlaar keep the world's best in his pocket. Even fans of Championship side Charlton had something to cheer about, with midfielder Reza Ghoochannejhad representing Iran.

It's not the same, but it's something.

But while some in north London were looking to the continent to claim a World Cup win of their own on Sunday evening, we'll be hoping the wait for success on our own shores isn't too far around the corner.

FULL LIST OF WORLD CUP WINNERS BY DIVISIONS

ITALY (90)
Juventus (22), Inter (18), Roma (13), Milan (8), Fiorentina (5), Palermo (4), Bologna (4), Lazio, (4), Udinese (2), Triestina (2), Sampdoria (2), Lucchese (1), Sampdoria (1), Parma (1), Reggiana (1), Napoli (1), Lecce (1), Cagliari (1)

GERMANY (64)
Bayern Munich (21), Koln (7), Kaiserslautern (5), Monchengladbach (5), Eintracht Frankfurt (4), Schalke (3), Borussia Dortmund (3), Leverkusen (2), Stuttgart (2), Fortuna Dusseldorf (2), Hamburg (2), Werder Bremen (2), SpVgg Furth (1), Hessen Kassel (1), Rot-Weiss Essen (1), Nuremberg (1), FSV Frankfurt (1), Koln (1)

BRAZIL (62)
Santos (11), Botafogo (10), Sao Paulo (8), Palmeiras (6), Corinthians (5), Cruzeiro (4), Vasco da Gama (4), Flamengo (4), Gremio (3), Fluminense (3), Bangu (1), Portuguesa (1), Atletico Mineiro (1), Atletico Paranaense (1)

SPAIN (31)
Barcelona (9), Real Madrid (9), Valencia (5), Deportivo (2), Bilbao (2), Villarreal (1), Sevilla (1), Real Betis (1), Elche (1)

ARGENTINA (30)
River Plate (8), Independiente (6), Boca Juniors (5), Talleres de Cordoba (3), Argentinos Juniors (2), Racing Club (2), Newell's Old Boys (1), Velez Sarsfield (1), Ferro Carril Oeste (1), San Lorenzo (1)

URUGUAY (30)
Penarol (10), Nacional (10), Cerro (2), Bella Vista (2), Huracan (2), Central (1), Montevideo Wanderers (1), Rampla Juniors (1), Club Olimpia (1)

ENGLAND (24)
Arsenal (6), Manchester United (3), West Ham (3), Liverpool (2), Chelsea (2), Middlesbrough (1), Leicester (1), Fulham (1), Everton (1), Leeds (1), Blackpool (1), Tottenham Hotspur (1), Southampton (1)

FRANCE (13)
Monaco (3), PSG (2), Marseille (2), Auxerre (2), Bordeaux (1), Nantes (1), Lyon (1), Metz (1)

Tired Van Persie given three weeks off by new United boss Van Gaal

Robin van Persie has been awarded three weeks off by Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal and won't join the squad on their trip to America.

The Holland striker revealed that he was in need of a break after the Dutch finished third at this summer's World Cup.

Van Persie missed eight games towards the end of last season for United and was running on near empty during Saturday night's win against Brazil.

That's me on holiday, lads! Robin van Persie has been given three weeks off at the end of the World Cup

Not in the USA: New Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal decided to give his talisman the time off

The striker played 548 minutes through the tournament and Van Gaal feels he requires an extended rest in order to be fully fit and firing before the start of the new Premier League season.

'I need that,' Van Persie said. 'It was a tough tournament. Every match I gave it my all. That was just it, more wasn't possible.'

While this comes as Van Gaal's first strong decision in charge at United, it also appears to be a correct one. Van Persie missed 27 games for United last season and the consensus is that he could do with an extended rest.

That wasn't something afforded at the World Cup. The 30-year-old scored four goals, including a stunning header against Spain in the opening game, and was the focal point spearheading the attack for his boss.

They enjoy a close friendship, with Van Persie expected to be handed the captaincy at Old Trafford.

Van Gaal was full of praise for his talisman as the Dutch landed home at the weekend. 'If you know where he came from and what he's done, all you can do is compliment him,' the 62-year-old enthused.

Flying Dutchman! Van Persie scored a stunning goal against Spain at the start of the tournament

United fly out to America later this week as they prepare for a major rebuilding job after the ill-fated reign of David Moyes last time out.

They face Robbie Keane's LA Galaxy on July 23 before playing Roma and Real Madrid, with Nemanja Vidic's Inter Milan sandwiched in between.

Van Gaal himself has insisted he doesn't need any time off and can't wait to get started at Carrington.

‘I don’t need a holiday,’ said Van Gaal. ‘It’s great to have such an exciting challenge. To work daily with young people is something I don’t need time off to rest for.

'I’ve only met two people from the daily management, the chief scout and the chief executive officer. And two of the owners.'

'It’s time I got to know more people. I will do my best. Whether that’s enough for the fans, I will wait and see, but I hope that will be the case.'

£70M-A-YEAR! Manchester United seal staggering kit deal with Adidas after ending 13 seasons with Nike

Manchester United will confirm a record kit deal of around £70million-a-year with Adidas on Monday afternoon.
The staggering figure is more than double the amount they currently pocket from current partner Nike.
Sportsmail's Charles Sale and Matt Lawton first revealed in May that Adidas were favourites to take over.

Final showing: Nike's ties with Manchester United will end after the 2014/15 season

No rewarding value: Nike will not renew their 13-year deal with United, and it comes following a season where the Red Devils dropped out of Europe for the first time since 1990

Where it all began: Nike's relationship with United began in 2002, as David Beckham celebrates scoring a Premier League goal against Charlton

They have beaten off competition from US brands Warrior - sponsors of Liverpool - and Under Armour.
The United deal will kick off for the 2015-16 season, with Nike to continue for one more campaign.
It is not yet known how long the deal is for.
But the contract is a massive boost for United as they bid to bounce back from failing to qualify for the Champions League.
Nike released a statement last week revealing they had pulled out of negotiations because of the eye-watering figures being demanded.

TEAM	MAKER	PER YEAR	YEARS	TOTAL
Manchester United	Adidas	£70m
Real Madrid	Adidas	£31m	8 years	£248m
Chelsea	Adidas	£30m	10 years	£300m
Arsenal	Puma	£30m	5 years	£170m
Barcelona	Nike	£27m	10 years	£270m
Liverpool	Warrior	£25m	6 years	£150m
Manchester City	Nike	£12m	6 years	£72m

Winning combo: Manchester United won the Champions League in 2008 while supplied by Nike

Cruyff slams Barcelona over Suarez transfer

The Dutchman has criticised the Liga giants for signing another player he feels will see the side further betray the style of football seen under Pep Guardiola and Frank Rijkaard Luis Suarez Liverpool Premier League 300514

Luis Suarez Liverpool Premier League 300514

Barcelona icon Johan Cruyff has hit out at the Catalans for their decision to sign Luis Suarez from Liverpool and feels they are moving away from the style of play that brought them unrivalled success in recent years.

The Uruguay international - who will not be allowed to play for Barcelona until October 26 due to suspension - is set to sign a five-year deal with the Camp Nou side after both clubs reached an agreement over a transfer fee of €88 million.

Club president Josep Maria Bartomeu said he was relishing the prospect of watching Suarez, Neymar and Lionel Messi in Barca'a attack next season, but Cruyff believes the 27-year-old is another individual talent who will take the team further away from the style in which they played under Pep Guardiola and Fran Rijkaard.

"I am happy that Germany won the World Cup. They are playing the kind of football that Barcelona are distancing themselves from," Cruyff wrote in his column for De Telegraaf.

"That feeling has only gotten stronger with the signing of Luis Suarez. He is a great player, but has a complicated character.

"I don't know how they plan to play free-flowing attacking football with Messi, Neymar and Suarez in one team. They are all players who rely on their individual actions.

"Barcelona choose for individualism rather than a team playing good football. The style of play they developed under Frank Rijkaard and Pep Guardiola is being abandoned."

Suarez will travel to Barcelona this week to undergo his medical before signing a contract until June 2019.

The Barcelona forward lamented his side's loss to Germany on Sunday and claimed things may have been different had they held on for a few more minutes

Lionel Messi believes Argentina may have gone on to win the World Cup had they managed to force a penalty shootout against Germany on Sunday. After a goalless game, the Albiceleste were edged out in the second half of extra-time by Mario Gotze's 113th minute winner and the trophy was won by Joachim Low's side.

Diego Maradona: Messi didn't deserve Golden Ball

The 1986 World Cup winner felt Fifa made the wrong decision to hand the award to the Barcelona star and rued Argentina's defeat to Germany Lionel Messi Golden Ball World Cup

Argentina icon Diego Maradona feels Lionel Messi did not deserve to win the Golden Ball following his performances at the World Cup.

The Barcelona star beat the likes of Thomas Muller, Arjen Robben and James Rodriguez to the prestigious individual award after scoring four goals in seven performances at this summer's tournament and guiding his team to the final, yet Maradona feels the 27-year-old only won it for commercial reasons.

Messi blames World Cup defeat on strikers

The 27-year-old was frustrated by his side's inability to finish their chances, while also pointing to the fact they had a day less to recover for the final Lionel Messi Argentina World Cup Final 07132014

Lionel Messi Argentina World Cup Final 07132014

Lionel Messi blamed Argentina's 1-0 World Cup final defeat to Germany on their forwards for being wasteful in front of goal.

The 27-year-old was a peripheral figure on the night and fired wide a golden opportunity to give his side the lead in the second half after Gonzalo Higuain had done the same in the opening period, while Rodrigo Palacio also scuppered a great chance.

Argentina were then punished for their failure to convert those chances when Mario Gotze scored a brilliant winner in extra-time to take the World Cup back to Germany.

And Messi believes his side deserved better, insisting they should have taken their chances.

"We haven't been in the semi-finals for many years and the fact that we played the final and the way we played it it's something to be proud of,"Messi said after the game.

"But we deserved more and that's why we are sad. The strikers missed the chances we had. It's a bad feeling for all of us because we couldn't win the cup and take it to our people.

"It's painful to lose it by so little. We were very close of a big change for this national team but we couldn't finish it."

Argentina made it to the final after beating Netherlands on penalties in their semi-final on Wednesday, a day after Germany thrashed Brazil 7-1 in their last four clash.

And Messi felt the ease at which Joachim Low's side cruised to victory last week, along with the additional 24 hours of rest ahead of the final, was key as the final went into extra-time.

"I was OK physically as were the rest of us," he added.

"The fact that we played a day after them and that we played extra-time against a team that was able to rest in the last minutes of their semi-finals affected our finish of the game.

"A difference of one day is big at this stage."

Messi could take one small crumb of comfort from his evening after being awarded the Golden Ball as the best player of the tournament, though he said the prize "meant very little" on a disappointing night.

Low: I told Gotze to show he is better than Messi

The Germany coach hailed his side's World Cup triumph as the culmination of 10 years' work after they beat Argentina 1-0 in Sunday's final at the Maracana

Germany coach Joachim Low says he told "miracle boy" Mario Gotze to show that he is better than Lionel Messi before his winning goal in Sunday’s World Cup final.

Gotze came on as a second-half substitute before scoring with a volley in extra-time as Germany beat Argentina 1-0 at the Maracana to win their fourth World Cup.

Low was seen speaking to Gotze during the break in extra-time and revealed after the match that he told the Bayern Munich forward to show up Messi and make his country world champions.

"I told Mario Gotze to show to the world he is better than Messi and to decide the World Cup. That’s what I told him – I had a good feeling with him," Low said in his post-match press conference.

"Gotze is a miracle boy. He can play in any position. I always know he can be decisive in a match and he scored a great decider today."

Low first joined the Germany set-up as assistant to Jurgen Klinsmann in 2004 before taking over as coach after the 2006 World Cup on home soil.

The 54-year-old believes the World Cup triumph was the culmination of a decade of constant improvement and says Germany deserved to win a World Cup.

"We started this project 10 years ago and this is the result of many years of work, beginning with Jurgen Klinsmann," Low said.

"Over these years, we made constant progress and improved performances until we did the ultimate thing we had to do.

"If there is one team that deserves this, it is these players. Guys like Per Mertesacker, Lukas Podolski, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Philipp Lahm, Miroslav Klose who have been in the group this whole time.

"The team spirit is unbelievable. They have unbelievable willpower and that is why we made it.

"The players gave everything, with Schweinsteiger leading them and Lahm running forever.

"I told them before the game that they would have to give more than ever before to do something they had never done before – win the World Cup.

"We are the first European team to win the World Cup in Latin America and this makes us proud. This deep joy and happiness will remain forever."

Colombian singer Shakira has praised her compatriots following their sublime performances at the 2014 World Cup and stressed that James Rodriguez and his team-mates did the nation proud.

The attacking midfielder was one of the revelations of the tournament, scoring six goals in five appearances to guide the Colombians to the quarter-final and scooping up the Golden Boot in the process.
“I feel so proud of my country, the way we stood out and showed the talent of our players to the world,” Shakira said.
“I’m proud of the Fair Play that we demonstrated throughout the whole tournament and of the way we showed what we’re made of.
“Someone like James Rodriguez showed what he’s made of and became one of the biggest stars of the entire tournament.
“I’m a proud Colombian to see that we put in probably our best performance in the history of the World Cup.”

Lukas Podolski kissed by Bastian Schweinsteiger in selfie after Germany beat Argentina 1-0 in World Cup final

Lukas Podolski needs no invitation to take a selfie, so the Germany striker wasn't about to let the opportunity pass him by after winning the World Cup.

The Arsenal star was an unused substitute as Germany defeated Argentina 1-0 after extra-time in the final played at the Maracana in Rio.

But Podolski celebrated with his team-mates after the final whistle by getting out his smart phone and posing for a shot with team-mate Bastian Schweinsteiger who gave him a kiss on the cheek.

Sealed with a kiss: Lukas Podolski takes a selfie as he is kissed by Germany team-mate Bastian Schweinsteiger

Selfie 2! Podolski with German Chancellor Angela Merkel after the game

Winning moment: Podolski celebrates with Schweinsteiger as he takes a selfie after winning the World Cup

The 29-year-old also bright his son Louis on to the pitch for the post-match celebrations who shared high fives with Thomas Muller, match winner Mario Gotze and team boss Joachim Low.

Podolski made two appearances during the tournament, starting in the win over USA in the group stage as well as featuring in the 4-0 victory over Portugal.

In the final, Gotze struck seven minutes from the end of extra-time with a sublime volley to win Germany their fourth World Cup and their first as a unified nation.

Manuel Neuer hailed an 'unbelievable' moment as Germany won the World Cup thanks to Gotze's extra-time winner over Argentina.

Gotze's fine control and shot sunk Lionel Messi and company and earned Germany their fourth world title.

'It is unbelievable,' Neuer, who won the Golden Glove award for the best goalkeeper in the tournament, was quoted as saying by kicker.de

'The team has done superbly, not only the players, but also the team behind the team. At some point we will stop celebrating, but we will always stand up again with a smile.'

Sami Khedira's £23m move to Arsenal 'imminent' despite interest from Chelsea

Arsenal are set to beat Chelsea to the signing of German international Sami Khedira from Real Madrid with Spanish newspapers reporting that a £23million deal has already been agreed.

According to Sport, Khedira will sign a four-year deal at the Emirates after it emerged that Chelsea were also interested in the 27-year-old.

Contract talks between Khedira's representatives and Real Madrid broke down and they are now set to sell rather than let him go for free next summer.

Midfield maestro: Sami Khedira's performances for Germany at the 2014 World Cup have caught the eye

Sealed with a kiss: Khedira celebrates Germany winning the World Cup at the Maracana

On target: Khedira got his name on the scoresheet during Germany's semi-final win against Brazil

Sami Khedira goes for the swimming trunks look in training

Arsenal have already splashed £30million to bring Chile international Alexis Sanchez to north London from Barcelona, and are on the verge of signing Mathieu Debuchy from Newcastle.

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho worked with Khedira during his reign at Real Madrid and the Portuguese manager is keen on the defensive midfielder but looks set to miss out.

Khedira missed out on the World Cup final on Sunday night after he injured himself in the warm-up before Germany beat Argentina 1-0 at the Maracana.

Rihanna celebrates Germany's World Cup win against Argentina by flashing her bra

There's nothing better than your country winning the World Cup, but Barbadian singer Rihanna seemed more than happy after Germany beat Argentina.
The pop princess took several snaps at the Maracana on Sunday night, celebrating the 1-0 win after extra-time.
The World Cup fanatic posted a picture lifting up her shirt to reveal her bra in the stands.

Landing the big one: Pop princess Rihanna holds the World Cup with record goalscorer Miroslav Klose

Revealing: Rihanna lifts her top after Germany beat Argentina to win the World Cup

Stuck in the middle with you: Rihanna holds the World Cup while Lucas Podolski and Bastian Schweinsteiger kiss her

Cheerleader: Pop star Rihanna poses with Podolski, Schweinsteiger and match winner Mario Gotze

Woman of the match: Rihanna poses with the man of the match award and with it's winner Gotze

Having a good time: Rihanna poses with the Man of the Match award during the final

Celebration: Rihanna was relishing the 1-0 extra-time win on Sunday night

Chelsea confident of landing Khedira as Arsenal turn attention to Bender

Chelsea are confident of beating Arsenal to Sami Khedira from Real Madrid.

Contract talks between Real and The 27-year-old German's representatives have broken down and they are willing to sell rather than let him go for free next summer.

Arsenal want Khedira but will pursue Bayer Leverkusen's Lars Bender if they lose out to Chelsea.